Salt dispenser



June 9, 1964 H. D. vlA, sR 3,136,457

SALT DISPENSER Filed Jan. 25, 1963 INVENTOR HUGH D. VHA, SR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,136,457 SALT DISPENSER Hugh D. Via, Sr., 3407 Chamberlayne Ave., Richmond, Va. Filed Jan. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 253,889 Claims. (Ci. 222-476) This invention relates to a container for holding and dispensing salt, sugar, epper, bicarbonate of soda, and other such substances as occur in powdered, granulated, or comminuted form.

A principal object of the invention is to provide such a container that will always permit the contents to run freely and controllably, irrespective of conditions tending to cause clogging or lumping.

Another object is to provide such a container that will be economical and easy of manufacture, yet sturdy and reliable in operation.

Yet another object is to provide a container that is easy to refill.

These and other objects, which will be apparent, are attained by the present invention, a preferred form of which is described in the following specification, as illustrated in the drawing, in which:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of the assembled dispenser,

FIGURE 2 is an axial, sectional view, taken on the plane of the line 2 2 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a transverse, sectional view, taken on the plane of the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, and

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, showing the movable parts in adjusted position, for the dispensing action.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, there is shown a container 10, of glass, plastic, metal or other suitable substance, comprising a cylindrical main body of cup form, with side wall 12, a bottom 14, and an open top bonded by a bevelled inner corner 16 on lthe top edge of wall 12. A closure cap or cover, 18, of substantially the same diameter as body lll, has an annular rib 20, depending from its under side, and the outer, side surface of this rib is provided with a peripheral groove 22, or arcuate section, in which is seated an O-ring 24, of rubbery material, adapted to seat on bevelled corner 16, and provide the sole contact between the cover 18 and the top of wall 12.

For metering the contents 26 of the container, a plunger 28 in the general form of a rubber tube, running the length of the body 11i, is employed. Tube 28 is solid throughout a short length at its lower end, and comprises a downwardly diverging, frusto-conical head 30 at its lower end, followed by an annular bead 32, the two dening an intermediate, annular valley 34. Bottom 14 has a central opening 36, somewhat larger in diameter than the neck or valley 34, so that upward pull by the sleeve 28 causes the slant sides of frusto-conical head 30 to contact the edge of opening 36, effectively sealing the container against outward movement of the contents (FIG. 2). However, upon a slight downward movement of lower head 30, the sides thereof move away from opening 36, permitting egress of the contents, and the rate of outer ow will be a maximum when valley 34 is opposite opening 36 (FIG. 4). The protruding portion of head 30 is accommodated by a recess 37 in the bottom 14 of the container.

T he tube 28 is secured at the upper end of the container by attachment to cover 18, and this serves the additional purpose of holding the cover in place, with O-ring 24 in sealing position. For attachment of sleeve 28 to the cover, the latter is provided on its underside with a depending, globular bead 38, over which the uniformed ICC bore of the tube 2S is forced, in a stretching action. To reinforce against the severe usage, the upper end of tube 28 is preferably provided with a beaded edge 4i).

Cover 18 and its depending bead 38 are centrally bored, to receive an operating rod 42, for sliding movement, the rod passing through sleeve 28, and having an annular bead 44 near its lower end, by means of which it is anchored in the solid, beaded portion 32 of the sleeve. Rod 42 also has a push button 46 at its upper end.

With the parts in the positions shown in FIGURE 2, the contents are effectively sealed in at both top and bottom, there being at least a small degree of tensile stress on tube 28. Upon lowering of rod 42 by finger pressure on button 46, the beaded edge 40 on the tube will hold fast on the depending bead 38, and the tube 28 will elongate, with the sides assuming the curvate form shown in FIGURE 4. This opens a passage at opening 36, which remains open as long as the button 46 is held depressed. Outflow of the contents may be continued, either by shaking, or by successively releasing and engaging button 46, which agitates the contents of the container, rendering flow easier.

Assembly of the parts will most conveniently be effected by inserting the beaded edge 40 through bottom opening 36, forcing rod 42 down into its anchorage in the bottom of tube 28, and stretching tube 2S to snap its end bead 4t) over depending bead 38, after which the cover is permitted to snap shut. It is also possible for stem 42 to have permanent anchorage in the tube 28, and to attach button 46 by a threaded connection, after rod 42 is passed upward through the cover 18.

While a certain, preferred embodiment has been shown and described, various modications will be apparent, in the light of this disclosure, and the invention should not, therefore, be deemed as limited, except insofar as shall appear from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A dispensing container for salt or the like, comprising a cylindrical container with a bottom and an open top having a bevelled, inner, corner edge, said bottom having a central recess, and a central opening within said recess, a cover having a depending, annular rib, with an annular groove in an outer surface, an O-ring in said groove and dwelling on said bevelled, corner edge, said cover also having a central bead depending from its under side, and a central opening through said bead, a rod slidably mounted in said opening, and having a button on its end externally of said cover, a tube of rubbery material having a beaded end received on said bead, said tube having a solid, lower portion, including a downwardly flaring, frusto-conical head, and an annular bead above said head, said head and bead defining an intermediate neck portion, the diameter of the opening in said bottom being intermediate the maximum and minimum diameters of said head, and less than the maximum diameter of said bead, said rod having an annular bead anchored in the said solid portion of said tube.

2. A dispensing container for salt or the like, comprising a cylindrical `container with a bottom and an open top having a bevelled, inner, corner edge, said bottom having a central recess, and a central opening within said recess, a cover having a depending, annular rib, with an annular groove in an outer surface, an O-ring in said groove and dwelling on said bevelled, corner edge, said cover also having a central bead depending from its under side, and a central opening through said bead, a rod slidably mounted in said opening, and having a button on its end externally of said cover, a tube of rubbery material having a beaded end received on said bead, said tube having a solid, lower portion, including a downwardly Haring, frusto-conical head, and and annular bead above said head, the diameter of the opening in said bottom being less than the maximum and greater than the minimum diameters of said head and bead, saidrod having an annular bead anchored in the said solid portion of said tube.

3. A dispensing container for salt or the like, comprising a cylindrical container with a bottom and an open top having a bevelled, inner, corner edge, said bottom having a central recess, and a central opening within said recess, a cover having a depending, annular rib, with an annular groove in an outer surface, an O-ring in said groove and dwelling on said bevelled, corner edge,-said cover also having acentral bead depending from its under side, and a central opening through said bead, a rod slidably mounted in said opening, and having a button on its end externally of said cover, a tube of rubbery materialV received on said bead, said tube having a solid, lower portion, including a downwardly flaring, frusto-conical head, and an annular bead above said head, the diameter of the opening in said bottom being less than the maximum and greater than the minimum diameters of said head and bead, said rod contacting the said solid portion f said tube. v

4. A dispensing container for salt or the like, comprising a cylindrical container with a bottom and an open top having a bevelled, inner, corner edge, said bottom having a central recess, and a central opening within said recess, a `cover having a depending, annular rib, with an annular groove in an outer surface, an O-ring in said groove and dwelling on said bevelled, corner edge, said cover also having a central bead depending from its under side and a central opening through said bead, a rod slidably mounted in said opening, and having a button on its end externally of said cover, a tube of rubbery material received on said bead, said tube having a solid, lower portion, including a head, and an annular bead above said head, the diameter of the opening in said bottom being less than the maximum and greater than the minimum diameters of said head and bead, said rod being anchored in the said solid portion of said tube.

5. A dispensing container for salt and the like comprising a cup form body having a bottom and an open top provided with a beveled inner corner edge, a cover having a depending annular rib with its annular groove in an outer surface, an O-ring in said groove and dwelling on said beveled corner edge, said bottom having a central recess, a tube of rubbery material having a headed portion exteriorly of said opening, said tube passing through said body andpsecured to said cover, and an operating rod passing through said cover and tube and adapted to move said headed portion away from said opening.`

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

5. A DISPENSING CONTAINER FOR SALT AND THE LIKE COMPRISING A CUP FORM BODY HAVING A BOTTOM AND AN OPEN TOP PROVIDED WITH A BEVELED INNER CORNER EDGE, A COVER HAVING A DEPENDING ANNULAR RIB WITH ITS ANNULAR GROOVE IN AN OUTER SURFACE, AN O-RING IN SAID GROOVE AND DWELLING ON SAID BEVELED CORNER EDGE, SAID BOTTOM HAVING A CENTRAL RECESS, A TUBE OF RUBBERY MATERIAL HAVING A HEADED PORTION EXTERIORLY OF SAID OPENING, SAID TUBE PASSING THROUGH SAID BODY AND SECURED TO SAID COVER, AND AN OPERATING ROD PASSING THROUGH SAID COVER AND TUBE AND ADAPTED TO MOVE SAID HEADED PORTION AWAY FROM SAID OPENING. 